Signaling device.



G. W. WALLER.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.1'5, 191s Patented Jan. 26, 1915UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WALLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO PETER A.FRANZMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Application filed February 15, 1913. Serial No. 748,627.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHAR 'Es W. WALLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inSignaling Devices, of which the following is aspeci cation.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices and hasparticular appli cation to a signal apparatus for use on automobiles andother motor-driven or self-pro polled vehicles.

In carrying out the present invention, it it my purpose to provide asignaling device by means of which the operator of the vehicle equippedwith my invention may convey signals indicative of the manner in whichhe is to operate his machine, to operators of machines in the vicinitythereof.

It is also my purpose to provide a signaling device which will embody,among other features in its construction, a source of light and a signalblade or plate adapted to be swung into and out of the path of the raysfrom the source of light so that the signal device may be renderedoperative and inoperative.

.Furthermore, I aim to provide a signal apparatus which will embrace thedesired features of simplicity, .efliciency, durability and convenience,coupled with cheapness of cost in manufacture and installation andwhich, when once-installed, may be readily manipulated. p

\Vith the above-recited and other objects of a similar nature inview,the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of anautomobile equipped with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentarytop plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevationthereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, and particularlyto the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A indicates theback or rear of an automoli c or other motor vehicle, while the numorall designates the usual tail lamp of the machine appropriately fastenedto the back adjacent to one of the lower corners thereof. Extendingoutwardly from the back A of the machine is a horizontally disposedbracket 2 which, in the present instance, is capable of adjustment andcomposed of a base 3 from which projects an arm 4 terminating in atoothed lug 5 formed with an aperture alining with a second aperture ina toothed lug 6 formed on one end of a connector 7, the teeth of thelugs 5 and 6 being adapted to be interlocked with each other and held insuch interlocking engagement by means of a bolt or other device 8 passedthrough the registering apertures in the said lugs. The opposite end ofthe connector 7 is formed to provide a toothed lug 9 disposed in a planeat right angles to that of the lugs 5 and (3 and having the teeththereof designed to interlock with the teeth on the lug 10 formed on oneend of a sleeve 11, said lugs 9 and 10 being provided with registeringopenings to receive a bolt 12. A rod 13 has one end thereof slidablydisposed within the sleeve 11 and is adapted to be held in any desiredadjusted position within the sleeve by means of a set screw 14, passedthrough the sleeve and designed to bind against the adjacent portion ofthe rod, while the outer end .of the rod is formed to provide avertically disposed bearing 15 in which is mounted for rotary movementan upwardly extending shaft 16 encircled by a coiled spring 17 havingone end thereof suitably connected to the bearing and the opposite end,fastened to the shaft. The lower end of the shaft 16 extends below thebearing or journal 15 and has connected thereto an arm 18 disposed in aplane at right angles to that of the shaft and formed in the presentinstance of a metallic strip split longitudinally for the major portionof its length as at 19 to provide clamping arms each terminating in asemi-circular finger 2O coiip erating with the other finger to grip theadjacent end of the shaft, 3. binding screw 21 being passed throughalining apertures in the arms to produce an effective clamping action.The free end of the arm 18 is formed with an aperture 22 in which isconnected one end of a cord 23 or other flexible element extending alongthe machine and connected to one of the control levers thereof as, forinstance, the brake lever. It will be understood, however, that the freeend of the cord or cable 23 may be connected to a lever independent ofanyof the control levers of the machine. The bracket 2 carrying theotatable shaft 16 is fastened to the rear of the vehicle at a point inadvance of the tail lamp 1, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2 ofthe drawings,

While the shaft has rigidly secured thereto a signal blade or plate 24equipped in the present instance with a colored lens or bulls eye 25.

The operation of this form of my invention may be briefly stated asfollows: The spring 17 normally holds the shaft 16 in such positionthatthe signal blade is out of the path of the light rays of the lamp 1 andat right angles to such path. Should the operator of the machine desireto communicate the signal to an operator of a machine in the rear hepulls upon the cord or cable 23 and through the arm 18 transmits arotary movement to the shaft 16 with the effect to move the latteragainst the action of the spring 17 and so throw the signal blade 24into a plane coincident to that of the light rays issuing from the lamp1, thereby enabling the colored lens of the signal blade to be clearlydiscerned. Should the cord 23 be connected to one of the control leversof the machine, such, for instance, as the clutch leyer, it will be seenthat the signal blade will be operated whenever the engine isdisconnected from the drive wheels. The toothed lugs 5 and 6 and thesimilar lugs 9 and 10 constitute in effect a universal joint whereby theposition of the signal blade may be changed or varied in accordance withthe circumstances or requirements of each ticular case, while the sleeve11 and the rod 13 form an adjustable connection by means parof which thesignal blade may be moved toward and fromvthe path of the light raysWhile I have herein shown and described certain preferred forms of myinvention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood that Ido not limit or confine myself to the precise details of constructionherein described and delineated, as modification and variation may bemade Within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim In combination with a vehicle tail lamp having a COI1.'6X lens,a signal blade normally positioned at right angles to the rays oflightemerging from the lamp andadapted to be moved to an angle of 45% soas to project the rays impinging thereon rear wardly of the vehicle, ashaft formed on the blade, a bearing for said shaft, a rod formedintegral therewith, a signal support, asleeve adjustably mounted to movein an arc of a circle on said support and adapted to receive the saidrod, and a set screw carried by the said sleeve adapted to allowlongitudinal adjustment of the said shaft for positioning the signalblade in the rays of greatest intensity emerging from the tail lamp.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A CHARLES W. WALLERQ Witnesses JOHN CURRY, GEORGE HJFIELp."

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five 01.11135 each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

7 Washington, D. G.

